Partners’ equity reflects the various classes of limited partner interests (i.e., common units, including restricted common units) outstanding. The following table summarizes changes in the number of our outstanding units since January 1, 2015:

Common

Units

(Unrestricted)

Restricted

Common

Units

Total

Common

Units

Number of units outstanding at January 1, 2015

1,933,095,027

4,229,790

1,937,324,817

Common units issued in connection with ATM program

25,520,424

--

25,520,424

Common units issued in connection with DRIP and EUPP

12,793,913

--

12,793,913

Common units issued in connection with Step 2 of Oiltanking acquisition

36,827,517

--

36,827,517

Common units issued in connection with the vesting and exercise of unit options

396,158

--

396,158

Common units issued in connection with the vesting of phantom unit awards

618,395

--

618,395

Common units issued in connection with the vesting of restricted common unit awards

2,009,970

(2,009,970

)

--

Forfeiture of restricted common unit awards

--

(259,300

)

(259,300

)

Cancellation of treasury units acquired in connection with the vesting of

equity-based awards

(683,954

)

--

(683,954

)

Other

15,054

--

15,054

Number of units outstanding at December 31, 2015

2,010,592,504

1,960,520

2,012,553,024

Common units issued in connection with ATM program

87,867,037

--

87,867,037

Common units issued in connection with DRIP and EUPP

16,316,534

--

16,316,534

Common units issued in connection with the vesting of phantom unit awards

1,761,455

--

1,761,455

Common units issued in connection with the vesting of restricted common unit awards

1,234,502

(1,234,502

)

--

Forfeiture of restricted common unit awards

--

(43,724

)

(43,724

)

Cancellation of treasury units acquired in connection with the vesting of

equity-based awards

(1,000,619

)

--

(1,000,619

)

Other

134,707

--

134,707

Number of units outstanding at December 31, 2016

2,116,906,120

682,294

2,117,588,414

Common units issued in connection with ATM program

21,807,726

--

21,807,726

Common units issued in connection with DRIP and EUPP

19,046,019

--

19,046,019

Common units issued in connection with the vesting of phantom unit awards

2,485,580

--

2,485,580

Common units issued in connection with the vesting of restricted common unit awards

681,044

(681,044

)

--

Forfeiture of restricted common unit awards

--

(1,250

)

(1,250

)

Cancellation of treasury units acquired in connection with the vesting of

equity-based awards

(1,027,798

)

--

(1,027,798

)

Common units issued in connection with employee compensation

1,176,103

--

1,176,103

Other

14,685

--

14,685

Number of units outstanding at December 31, 2017

2,161,089,479

--

2,161,089,479

Our common units represent limited partner interests, which give the holders thereof the right to participate in distributions and to exercise the other rights or privileges available to them under ourSixth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (as amended from time to time, the “Partnership Agreement”). We are managed by our general partner, Enterprise GP.

In accordance with our Partnership Agreement, capital accounts are maintained for our limited partners. The capital account provisions of our Partnership Agreement incorporate principles established for U.S. Federal income tax purposes and are not comparable to the equity amounts presented in our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Earnings and cash distributions are allocated to holders of our common units in accordance with their respective percentage interests.

The net cash proceeds we received from the issuance of common units during the year ended December 31, 2017 were used to temporarily reduce amounts outstanding under EPO’s commercial paper program and revolving credit facilities and for general partnership purposes.